When Fran Lebowitz was growing up in suburban New Jersey in the 1950s, she won a school award for being “the Class Wit” – and in her 50-year career as a writer and speaker, she’s repeatedly earned that label. Among her countless famous aphorisms, this zinger: "The best fame is a writer's fame. It's enough to get a table at a good restaurant, but not enough to get you interrupted when you eat."

As a writer herself, Lebowitz has published two best-selling collections of essays – and a children’s book – but today she’s better known as a public intellectual, renowned for her acerbic social commentary, sardonic wit, and iconic status in the cultural life of New York City.

Lebowitz joins us ahead of her Australian speaking tour for a chat about everything from the nightmare of long-haul plane travel for smokers, to the only monogamous love of her life: her 1979 Checker Marathon car.

Today's episode is hosted by Good Weekend senior writer Amanda Hooton.

When Fran Lebowitz was growing up in suburban New Jersey in the 1950s, she won a school award for being &ldquo;the Class Wit&rdquo; &ndash; and in her 50-year career as a writer and speaker, she&rsquo;s repeatedly earned that label.&nbsp;Among her countless famous aphorisms, this zinger: "The best fame is a writer's fame. It's enough to get a table at a good restaurant, but not enough to get you interrupted when you eat."
As a writer herself, Lebowitz has published two best-selling collections of essays &ndash; and a children&rsquo;s book &ndash; but today she&rsquo;s better known as a public intellectual, renowned for her acerbic social commentary, sardonic wit, and iconic status in the cultural life of New York City.
Lebowitz joins us ahead of her Australian speaking tour for a chat about everything from the nightmare of long-haul plane travel for smokers, to the only monogamous love of her life: her 1979 Checker Marathon car.
Today's episode is hosted by Good Weekend senior writer Amanda Hooton.

Good Weekend Talks features in-depth conversations with the people fascinating Australians right now, from sport to politics to the arts, business and beyond, interviewed weekly by the country's top journalists. Consider it a magazine for your ears.

Good Weekend Talks features in-depth conversations with the people fascinating Australians right now, from sport to politics to the arts, business and beyond, interviewed weekly by the country's top journalists. Consider it a magazine for your ears.

Good Weekend Talks

Fran Lebowitz on smoking, Trump and today's young people being another species

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/6076015a-7d55-43ae-84f7-b435007725bb/transcript